Painted Words and Spoken Memories By Aliki Published by HarperCollins Publishers Age Range: 4+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “Aliki has captured the emotions and experiences of many of today’s children.” —School Library Journal Description Returning to her own childhood for inspiration, Aliki has created an exceptional sixty-four-page book that presents Marianthe’s story — her present and her past. In Painted Words, Marian paintings help her to become less of an outsider as she struggles to adjust to a new language and a new school. Under...

Lucky Broken Girl By Ruth Behar Published by Penguin Young Readers Group Age Range: 10+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “A poignant and relevant retelling of a child immigrant’s struggle to recover from an accident and feel at home in America.” —Kirkus Reviews Description In this unforgettable multicultural coming-of-age narrative—based on the author’s childhood in the 1960s—a young Cuban-Jewish immigrant girl is adjusting to her new life in New York City when her American dream is suddenly derailed. Ruthie’s plight will intrigue readers, and her...

American Street By Ibi Zoboi Published by HarperCollins Publishers Age Range: 14+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat A National Book Award Finalist with five starred reviews! Description In this stunning debut novel, Pushcart-nominated author Ibi Zoboi draws on her own experience as a young Haitian immigrant, infusing this lyrical exploration of America with magical realism and vodou culture. On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life. But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s...

One Good Thing about America By Ruth Freeman Illustrated by Kathrin Honesta Published by Holiday House Publishing, Inc. Age Range: 8 – 12 Years Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “Highly recommended for libraries seeking timely stories about the immigrant experience.” —School Library Journal Description It’s hard to start at a new school . . . especially if you’re in a new country. Back home, Anais was the best English student in her class. Here in Crazy America she feels like she doesn’t know English at all. Nothing makes sense (chicken...

A Long Pitch Home By Natalie Dias Lorenzi Published by Charlesbridge Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat Description Ten-year-old Bilal liked his life back home in Pakistan. He was a star on his cricket team. But when his father suddenly sends the family to live with their aunt and uncle in America, nothing is familiar. While Bilal tries to keep up with his cousin Jalaal by joining a baseball league and practicing his English, he wonders when his father will join the family in Virginia. Maybe if Bilal can prove himself on the pitcher’s mound, his father will make it to...

I’m New Here By Anne Sibley O’Brien Published by Charlesbridge Publishing Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N “Whether readers are new themselves or meeting those who are new, there are lessons to be learned here about perseverance, bravery, and inclusion, and O’Brien’s lessons are heartfelt and poetically rendered.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review Description Maria is from Guatemala, Jin is from Korea, and Fatima is from Somalia. All three are new to their American elementary school, and each has trouble speaking, writing, and sharing ideas in English....

The Red Pencil By Andrea Davis Pinkney Illustrated by Shane Evans Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N “A soulful story that captures the magic of possibility, even in difficult times.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) Description “Amira, look at me,” Muma insists. She collects both my hands in hers. “The Janjaweed attack without warning. If ever they come– run.” Finally, Amira is twelve. Old enough to wear a toob, old enough for new responsibilities. And maybe old enough to go to school in...